Individuals whose health is being affected by their indoor environment are being referred to as Chronic Inflammatory Response Syndrome caused by Exposure to the Interior Environment of Water-Damaged buildings (CIRS-WDB). According to the World Health Organization and the Government Accountability Office, there are many compounds, both toxigens and inflammagens, present in the indoor air of Water-Damaged Buildings (WDB). The contaminants include fungi, bacteria, actinomycetes, and mycobacteria and their toxins; as well as inflammagens from fragments of fungal structures; and beta glucans, mannans, hemolysins, proteinases, spirocyclic drimanes and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Given the health implications that can occur in a WDB, it is imperative that any water damage is immediately addressed by the most professionally trained and experienced personnel in order to prevent the amplification of mold, other toxins and inflammagens.
Removal of fungi, mold, bacteria and other potential toxins and inflammagens require trained, experienced personnel and many times the services of industrial hygienists (IH) in order to determine the magnitude of the indoor air problem.
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